"The Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation (FSTC) has produced a beautiful catalogue '1001 Inventions: How Muslim Civilisation Shaped The World.' It reminds us just how the Middle East, North Africa and Al Andalus catalysed many of the trappings of modern life. An immensely useful corrective to our Greco-Roman-Renaissance sense of Western Civilisation " The Times Summer Books: The Past by Bettany Hughes

Dr. Farouk EL-Baz is one of the leading lights of the scientific community. Although he may be best known for his groundbreaking work with the U.S. space program, during the past two decades, he devoted his scientific talents to better understanding of climatic impact on environments - and particularly desert environments.